Links to the Present: OH NO! Edition
2014-06-19
The Cavs’ pending decision of who to draft with the number one pick may have gotten easier. Joel Embiid has suffered a foot injury. Jeff Goodman at ESPN broke the story.
“He suffered a foot injury to his right foot, sometime over the last few days,” agent Arn Tellem told ESPN’s Andy Katz by phone Thursday. “He’s getting evaluations from various doctors and experts in the field. We’ll know more Friday.”
One source told ESPN.com that Embiid “may have broken” his foot, but Tellem wouldn’t speculate on the seriousness of the injury until he had heard back from doctors. Tellem also said it was unlikely he would be doing any more workouts before the draft, which is June 26.
Embiid seemed to be the probable number pick up until now. Chad Ford even mocked him to the Cavs after a supposedly stellar workout. Regardless of how good the workout went, the previous injury concerns, although they were back injuries, are now the only thing I can think about. I’ll be talking myself into Andrew Wiggins if this injury is something very serious.
In other Cavs news, Chris Manning at Right Down Euclid put out his mock draft for the first round. He has Embiid going first, but I wonder if he would change that now.
David Zavac at Fear The Sword has a piece up about all the questions the Cavs must answer this summer time. It’s a lot more than you think and most don’t even deal with the coach we haven’t hired yet.
Hiring a coach, making decisions on Irving and Thompson, using a first overall draft choice, navigating trades, utilizing cap space, seeing what our young guys got at Summer League. It’s going to be a wild summer. Last time the Cavaliers had so much uncertainty and promise, it was … well, it was 12 months ago.
The Cavs will keep all of that promise until the season starts. This is the best time of the NBA year for Cleveland fans.
Going back to the question of who the Cavs should pick as coach, Pete Carril, David Blatt’s former legendary coach at Princeton, raves about Blatt. Mary Schmitt Boyer reports some of the pleasant comments.
“He’s got to go watch the guys play,” Carril said. “When he watches them play, he’ll see exactly what he has to do — whether he can play an up-tempo game or what. Right now, if a guy had a brain in his head, he’d imitate the San Antonio team.”
If Blatt can honestly realize that he should be copying the Spurs, I’m all for him as coach. However, he may not be all about coaching in Cleveland according to some. Andrew Schnitkey at WFNY breaks down the reports that Blatt is being advised to avoid the Cleveland job because of Dan Gilbert’s meddling.
Cavs fans are now stuck hoping either a) the reports about Gilbert’s meddling in the coaching search are untrue, b) the report of Blatt’s advisor’s are untrue, or c) Dan Gilbert will finally acquire some self-awareness and realize that despite what I’m sure he feels are best intentions, he is hurting this franchise. Otherwise, it’s a long, bleak road ahead of the Cavaliers this summer.
Bill Simmons answers a question in his mailbag about where LeBron may go if he opts out this summer. Cleveland is a possibility.
Door No. 2 (+400 odds): He goes back to Cleveland and convinces Carmelo to come with him. Do NOT rule this out. Especially if Cleveland hires a coach that LeBron likes. The Cavs are loaded with young assets and could create whatever team LeBron wanted. And also, you gotta love the fairy-tale ending here — LeBron coming home as 10,000 different Cavs fans make YouTube montages of him with that “I’m Coming Home” song.
(The biggest obstacle: Will LeBron ever forgive Dan Gilbert for The Letter? From what I’m hearing
… not anytime soon. I’d start groveling to a connected third party right now, Mr. Gilbert, if you’re not doing that already.)
At +400, Cleveland’s odds beat out the Clipper’s odds for LeBron at +500, but Cleveland’s odds fall short of Miami’s odds for LeBron at -400. Carmelo coming to Cleveland would also be a plus, but I somehow think he may like the spotlight in big cities too much to do that. Miami would be easily open for him if LeBron came to Cleveland though. It could all work out perfectly.
Simmons also thinks that Cleveland’s Midwest sibling, Chicago, doesn’t have a chance.
And going back to the Midwest but picking Chicago over Cleveland? Come on.
It’s going to be a crazy summer starting this Thursday at the draft. There should be lots of action to see and criticize for fans.
—
Update: There’s also this…
As Jeff Goodman reports, Joel Embiid suffered a foot injury. Cavs want to workout Dante Exum for No. 1 spot now too, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 19, 2014
Nate Smith: I said the other day, that this is a five deep draft, and it appears the Cavs are wondering if it might be at least four deep. Regardless of perceptions, It can’t hurt to work the guy out. Cleveland may have been thinking about trading to three, and feel that Exum will be there if they still made that trade. Embiid’s injury changes the draft that math in two ways: first, the draft pick may be even more valuable now because there is one fewer guy at the top of the draft. Second, it may be much less likely that the Cavs trade. Also, I’m trusting Tony Rizzo’s sources from now on.
Cleveland doctors discovered right foot injury in exams and passed info onto Embiid reps, sources tell Yahoo. Fear is a right foot fracture.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 19, 2014
hey I am back ( ben a long time a lot has happened )—-until are fortunes changed with the lottery pick we were debating on mcbuckets/ hood/ suric etc.—–we would have jumped at the chance at wiggins / parker landing to us at this spot so either one is a plus—I was on the embiid wagon but I think the risk is too great ( Anderson has missed how many games the past 5 yrs )—possibly trade down and get a rim protector I clint capella ( almost 7′—great wing span/ and very athletic—not embiid but fills a void
hey I am back ( ben a long time a lot has happened )—-until are fortunes changed with the lottery pick we were debating on mcbuckets/ hood/ suric etc.—–we would have jumped at the chance at wiggins / parker landing to us at this spot so either one is a plus—I was on the embiid wagon but I think the risk is too great ( Anderson has missed how many games the past 5 yrs )—possibly trade down and get a rim protector I clint capella ( almost 7′—great wing span/ and very athletic—not embiid but fills a void
I’m leaning towards Wiggins, but honestly I’d be fine with Parker too. I don’t see either of them not being good. We were looking at drafting McBuckets or something at 9. This is free money.
never mind, now I’m back on board with wiggins … we might not need Parker, if AB pans out. AND I think there’s a decent chance that he does. Yes he stunk when you consider the season as a whole (35% fgs, 24%3pt fgs), but I just wasted several minutes tallying AB’s stats for the last 20 games he played: 16 minutes per game, 6.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 45% fg, 36% 3pt fg That’s ok. Per 36 minutes over his last 20 games it’s 15 ppg and 8.4 rpg. Compare that to some other top rookies / picks. You have… Read more »
Doesn’t look overly optimistic to me…those stats are encouraging. Thank God we didn’t take Otto Porter!
There is no way I trade the pick unless we want Exum. Even then I’d prefer that we take Wiggins and then if the player we ‘really want’ is available to us at #_, then we trade Wiggins for that pick + whatever else we would be after. If Philly maybe we trade for both of thier first round picks in hopes (the # 3 overall and #10 wouldn’t be a bad trade for this years #1 if we can get “our guy” at #3). I’m not convinced we pass on Embiid IF his back is o.k. and we consider… Read more »
Stress fracture at the navicular bone is not a minor issue with his foot. Many big men have had their careers derailed by injuries to this bone. Yao Ming is a recent example.
I’m more on board with trading at this point. I’m not convinced wiggins helps us immediately. Our backcourt is set, unless we trade Dion (cough), and he’s not ready to play the 3. Plus I’ve never been on #TeamWiggins.
Whatever happened to trading the #1 for the #3 and Thad Young? I would do that an then still take Embiid. If he’s mildly injury prone, fight through it. Remember how injury prone Big Z was in his earlier years? After that he was a beast. Embiid reminds me a little bit like Z anyway so go for it.
I didn’t think this until today, but I actually think Parker is the best pick. Reminds me of Big Dog, and he’s a harder worker than Big Dog. He’ll be great.
Well, heck. I had been coming around to Embiid. It sucks to not have a clear shot at him. Or maybe its better that he got hurt before we took him.
Good news on the coaching front, though, in my opinion.
everyone needs to lighten up. We lucked into the #1 pick in the deepest draft maybe ever and the best draft since 2003. Guys, seriously, this time last year the discussion was Oladipo, Porter, Bennett, Noel. Come on, y’all.
So the franchise C is off the board because of injury. That is not a shock, he’s already had injuries and he is a 7 footer. They break down. I guess we are stuck the freak SF with otherworldly potential.
pjinaz; Excellent insight. I hope you are right.
Most of us here are just tossing out opinions, usually without too much thought. Here is one of mine:
No one knows how how trading for Love would work out. But, I doubt it will impress LeBron. If LeBron makes another move, he will probably not want to be doing it every year or so! So, would he prefer a lot of excellent young talent to finish out his career with, or an all star that might leave after one year?
I can’t imagine Love walking after a year if he’s on a team with Lebron and Kyrie.
I think Love/Kyrie + young guys looks better than broken down Wade/Bosh and washed up veterans
Are there any Parker fans out there that can talk me into him? I worry about his position on Cavs. Can he play 3?
Most people are saying that he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to guard other SFs. So while he may be able to play the 3 on offense, not so much on defense supposedly.
I doubt that he can play the 3. Positionally, he’s totally redundant with Bennett . . . and you can’t trade Bennett right for anything that would help the team. I still expect Bennett to blossom.
Parker truly is a Paul Pierce clone – except he can’t defend the 3..
Time to trade the #1 for Kevin Love?
Having Kyrie and Love gives us a good shot at getting Lebron. Seems like a better plan than waiting for Parker or Wiggins to develop. I bet we could trade the #1 for Love straight up.
There is a zero percent chance we would trade the #1 for Love unless it was a sign and trade. That would be difficult because Love would be in a much better financial position if he waited until after this season. Then, you could sign him as a free agent without giving up anything.
The only other possibility would be if he really wants to come to Cleveland (maybe if he colluded with LeBron) and would be willing to accept a lesser deal.
good insights, pjinaz. very true.
The Cavs hold some interesting cards here. They are the only team to have an inside look at Embid’s back and foot as they were the only team to bring him in before the injury was announced. Also Philly has to be panicking right now right? They were already reportedly trying to move up to draft Wiggins who will surely be gone by the third pick. Do they now offer the Cavs the 3 and the 10? If the Cavs still love Embid do they draft him at 3 where he would almost certainly be available while picking up another… Read more »
@ Hot Sauce – I never liked Wiggins either.
@ Pjinazz – Philly wants Wiggins (and they know he’ll be gone by 3). Trade the pick for #3 & #10 and still take Embiid. Find a way to trade up from #10 and get Smart or Exum. If you have to trade #10 and next year’s #1 (protected).
I’d rather have Kevin Love than Wiggins – if he wants to come to Cleveland.
Then sign Gordon Heyward.
UDog, we are not going to be able to move up from 10 to 4 without giving up the farm. Take Wiggins at 1 and take best available in the 2nd. Don’t take Embiid at 3 when he has been hurt in high school, college, and now before the draft. Dude is going to be hurt a lot and will spend too much time on the bench becuase of it. Can’t learn how to play when you’re wearing a suit on the sidelines. don’t waste this draft. Take Wiggins and trot out Kyrie, Dion, Wiggins, Tristan, Andy. LeBron wants to… Read more »
Well, I’m just going to have to trust mgmt on this one. They know a lot more about Wiggins than I do and if they pick him – I’m an instant Wiggins fan. However, his current supporters place him in the elite category, and if that’s so you don’t draft him to back up Lebron. If you do, I’d consider him an immediate bust. A good, not great, Wiggins is a bust. So I’d say that selecting Wiggins would make a Lebron return much less likely. The ball dominance requirements of Lebron, Kyrie, Dion, and Wiggins would be mind boggling.… Read more »
Well you don’t draft a certain way because you hope that you can sign a player in free agency. We don’t know if we are getting LeBron or not. He could stay in Mia, go to Hou, LAL, Clv or wherever. Besides, at this point it is either Wiggins or Parker. Both would be back ups to LeBron if we signed him. Parker is more NBA ready but Wiggins has more potential. Im going Wiggins.
Wiggins can also play the 2 to spell Dion and make the most athletic wing duo in the League if we did sign Bron.
Considering that LeBron’s Miami team ran one of the most efficient offenses in the league and one of the ones that moved the ball around the most, I don’t think ball dominance with LeBron is a problem.
Yeah, San Antonio ran a better passing offense, but Miami’s was pretty good until those last 3 games.
I am really disappointed by Embiid news. Damn it. I have never liked Wiggins from the moment I started researching him. Does not have a single elite basketball skill. Which means Parker has to be the guy, which just kind of sucks.
Trade it for Love, sign LeBron.
So, yeah, that’s not true. Unless athleticism and defense are not basketball skills. Literally dude needs to improve his dribbling and some argue his killer instinct, people would have argued the same about Kawhi Leonard until 2 weeks ago. He shoots well, drives well, gets to the line at will and capitalizes when he is there, plays great defense, is incredibly athletic, is 1 yr removed from high school. How do you not like him? I can understand liking Embiid better if he was healthy but I mean come on. Considering our last 2 #1 picks and the lack of… Read more »
It’s a stress fracture for Embiid. Surgery on his right foot tomorrow.
So Wiggins.
Considering how close they were as prospects, I’m OK with that.
I’d be a little surprised if it wasn’t Wiggins. Even though the recovery time from stress fracture surgery is four months, he would miss all of summer league and most of training camp. Even then he would out of shape at the start of the season. It would be exactly the same scenario that Bennett went through. There’s no way the Cavs could endure that.
And, in more breaking news related to the Cavs:
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11108467/cleveland-cavaliers-narrowed-their-search-head-coach-tyronn-lue-david-blatt
It’s looking like Lue or Blatt.
Intial thoughts:
1. We are going to dodge a major bullet by not hiring Gentry. (Might be the biggest overall win with this announcement.)
2. Maybe Price could still be a top assistant with the team?
3. I’m REALLY hoping for Blatt, but I wouldn’t dislike a Lue signing either.
Still wish they would have talked to George Karl.
Maybe they did and he wanted too much organizational control? I don’t know – that’s the only thing that makes sense to me. If they didn’t even reach out to him when he publicly said he had interest, then that’s definitely a bad move, I agree.
Only other rationalization I use to make myself feel better is maybe Karl is turning teams off in some way because he isn’t/wasn’t being linked to any vacancies even with all of the coaching carousel this offseason.
Do you really think George Karl would be able to relate to our players well or be able to attract other players who want to play for him? I think what Lue and Blatt bring are reputations for getting along with players and Blatt is viewed as a pretty good strategist. I think Karl is seen as an old school coach, who unlike Popovich, doesn’t necessarily relate to players very well. In all cases, none of them are proven winners in the NBA, Karl has the most experience, but never won anything in the tough west – despite having so… Read more »
Seemed like he related pretty well to J.R. Smith. Yes, that’s just one example. But AFAIK, he really didn’t clash with players
I’m not saying that I preferred Karl over Lue or Blatt. But it would have made sense to at least interview him.
I would change my mock now if I could. And it would be to Andrew Wiggins.
This could be the best break in Embiid’s life. Now chances are he won’r have to waste seven years of his career in cleveland (please let him fall to seven, please let him fall to seven).
Is that picture above of Blatt or his mentor? If Blatt, I have no confidence in that hire, that he’ll stay long-term or the players take him seriously.
That is his mentor! Haha
I guess Gentry is not happening
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11108467/cleveland-cavaliers-narrowed-their-search-head-coach-tyronn-lue-david-blatt
i just got a great lol out of that post
What?! Not a Larry David Fan?
The pick just hit the fan.
WHO ARE WE? CLEVELAND!
WHAT DO WE WANT?
CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SUCCESS!
AND WHEN WILL WE GET IT? NEVER!
I hope Z’s foot docs are still with the club. That may be our only hope.
I still want to take Embiid. Second choice is offer KI to Lakers for their number 7 and cap fodder, take Exum/Wiggins at #1 and see who is available at 7.
What?! Trade Kyrie for pick #7?! How does that possibly make sense?
That doesn’t make any sense. People are going crazy these past couple days.
Mitch Kupchek’S number is 1-55GOLAKERS. Call any time 24/7.
Best player available = Parker. Highest potential available = Wiggins or Exum or Embiid (if healthy) Most immediate impact player available = Parker (offensive punch) or Wiggins or Embiid (defensive punch) Player that makes most since as a #1 = Wiggins Biggest ‘bust’ potential/most unsafe pick = Exum or Embiid. I’m talking myself more and more into Wiggins. I think he’s the safest pick for a #1 overall who has potetial to be a real superstar in the futre. I don’t see that with Parker (who I see as a potential all-star). And while I think Embiid or Exum could… Read more »
Nate, I see you are still sticking with Rizzo.
Don’t assume this has anything to do with what he reported his sources were telling him.
Chad Ford:
“Cavs, Bucks & Sixers in the dark on this. Waiting like the rest of us for report on Embiid’s foot on Friday. If it’s serious, he slides.”
Cavs wouldn’t be in the dark if they discovered this issue while Embiid was in for workout & physical.
He said all along that his sources weren’t within the Cavs organization. So I’m betting it was someone closer to the medical side of things. Which is crappy because of HIPAA and all, but Rizzo’s sources on the ground in Cleveland were better than Ford and Amico’s national ones.
Also, Woj has reported that it was the Cavs’ doctors who discovered the issue. So Ford’s claim not only conflicts Rizzo, but the Woj Bomb.
I just saw that a few minutes ago. Ford vs. Woj – only one of them can be right!
I also interpret this as Embiid was THE GUY they wanted. Otherwise, they’d just sit put and take Wiggins or Parker like they initially intended.
What I could see now is a trade down- say with Utah- where they get some assets (Favors? Hayward?) and then still take Embiid at #5.
Quite the theater, this is. Mmmmm? (Read in Yoda voice)
Yuck. There were two franchise level prospects in this draft. Now one is hurt. Draft the other one. Wiggins. Don’t screw around with this. Get a franchise guy and you are set. Screw it up by trading down and getting lesser guys and pairing them with Exum or someone does nothing to help the team. Stars win championships. The Spurs have 3 HOF plus Leonard. The Heat have 3 HOF plus Allen (actually he’s a HOF too). Before them the Celtics had 3 HOF plus Rondo. The Lakers had 2 HOF plus a bunch of really good players like Bynum… Read more »
Clearly you cannot read.
Is the snarkiness necessary?
He’s clearly insinuating that you don’t mess with the big man with multiple injuries…
Yep. Two highly rated prosepcts, one is now injured with an injury that sucks for big men.
So you take the other one. Wiggins.
KJ is just salty because his backcourt boner Embiid is hurt like some of us were telling him is something you should worry about.
Take Wiggins, debate should be about over by now.
I would imagine the reason they want to look at Exum is for a trade down scenario to 3, 4 or 5.
Ugh on Embiid. I think this makes Wiggins the easy choice. I just don’t want them to overthink it and do something stupid. I’m so glad Grant isn’t making this pick.
Sign Irving
Don’t do anything with Thompson. He’s been pretty sucky and probably should not be starting on a good team. Hopefully Bennett takes the starting PF spot this year. Otherwise we got two backup PF for two top 5 picks.